Crochet Mesh Grocery Tote Pattern

We do a lot of grocery shopping at Aldi. If you’ve ever been there you know it’s a great place to go for super low prices! One of the ways they can keep prices down is by not providing grocery bags, among other things. You either have to buy them there or provide your own. For whatever reason I always forget to bring bags with me. This drives me nuts because I never remember I don’t have any bags until I pull into the parking lot…go figure.

I designed this tote with my frequent Aldi shopping routine in mind. After I’m done writing this post I going to put my new totes in the car and that’s where they will stay until I go shopping next. Hopefully I’ll remember to put them back into the car after I bring our next bunch of groceries home, haha. I’m hoping these awesome crochet bags will just make me remember automatically, I think they will.

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A printable PDF version of this pattern is available for purchase here.

Hi Chrystal, this pattern would probably be considered a more intermediate to moderate level of crochet difficulty, and assumes you already know the basics of crocheting. I unfortunately don't have any crochet patterns that are geared towards beginners as my blog is still very young, and most of my experience is with knitting.

In the pattern I do highlight in round 5 how I made the increase:

"Round 5: *chain 4, single crochet in next chain 4 space, chain 4, single crochet in next chain 4 space, chain 4, single crochet in same chain 4 space; Repeat from * to end of round ( 18 spaces)

In other words, for round 5, you will be increasing in every other ch 4 space."

I know this may sound a bit confusing when you read it, but after you try it out a couple you'll see it's not too bad. Hope this helps!

I just finished this bag and I love it! I ordered a bunch of cotton yarn off the internet and when it came in the colors were not what I had expected. I hated to return it and knew it would become handy eventually and when I saw your pattern, I figured that I certainly need market bags! 🙂 I will make a couple more to keep in my car!

Such a cute bag, I am definitely not a beginner but I am a little confused with the pattern, I have done about 6 rounds, and am curious when it actually starts to take a bag shape, mine looks like a big doily!!!

Yep! That's how it looks until about round 35 or 36, after round 38 your bag should look like the picture right below that round. Just keep following the pattern and trust me it will all of the sudden transform from a giant doily into a bag! 🙂

Brittany, your tote is so cute, and it simply flew off my hook. Thank you for sharing your pattern! I used some nylon thread I’ve had sitting in my stash bag, with a size H hook, and it worked perfectly 🙂

Brittany thank you so much for the pattern. I have searched for so long for a mesh grocery tote and have tried about three all the way to almost the end, then ripped it ALL out because it wasn’t what I wanted. All that I tried were like a tube. After you put stuff in them they were so long!!!!!! I wanted one that had a wide mouth and was fat around. Couldn’t find anything like I wanted…….then I found you! It turned out beautiful!! I used Premier cotton fair. It is 52 percent cotton and 48 percent acrylic. It’s a fine Cotton #2. I love it. I have ” the go to bag pattern” now and can’t wait to get started on another with a thicker cotton. I will post a pic soon. I have never written on a blog before but was so impressed with this pattern I had too!

Hi Kathy, thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to say hi!!! I am so happy that you enjoyed the pattern, and would absolutely LOVE to see a picture! Please feel free to upload the pic to my JustBCrafty Facebook page

Awesome!!!! The two handles crocheted right onto the bag is what sets this bag above the rest for me. I’m always afraid handles with fall off if I have to sew them on. Thanks so much for making and sharing such a great pattern!

Hi Dolly, thank you so much! I am really glad you enjoyed the pattern! I agree, that is always a concern, especially if you are toting around some heavy groceries…having the handles fall off would be no fun! 🙂

I haven’t crocheted in many years and even then I didn’t do much. Recently I’ve been searching for different ideas to use as gifts for family and friends. I was thrilled when I came across your pattern. We , several members of our family and friends all shop at Aldi’s too. What a great money saver! Anyway, I just finished making one of these bags for my mother for her birthday. Now I’ll be making more to put away for gifts. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern for free!! Have a blessed day, Kitty

Thank you so much for sharing this pattern! I’ve just completed my first bag and can’t wait to get more yarn in the morning to start another. The instructions were clear and easy to follow.
Thanks so much,
Tessie

I have been looking for “the perfect net bag pattern!” If this turns out to be it, I would like to make some to sell, of course giving credit to the original pattern designer. What is your copyright policy?

Hi Juanita! Thank you, I am flattered you enjoyed the pattern! Yes, you may make items to sell as long as credit is given back to me, and I ask that if sold online that there be a link included back to my site. Thank you for asking!

Hi Danika! Thank you! I’m so glad you are trying out the pattern, I hope you have fun! To begin, you will make your magic circle, then chain 3. The chain 3 will count as your first double crochet, you will then make 11 double crochets in the magic ring. If you need a visual on how to make the magic ring, I have linked a video tutorial in the pattern.

Love the pattern. I have vacation rentals and have provided store bought beach bags for Guests however they get ruined and I need to keep purchasing. This worked out nicely. I added extra rounds to make larger. So far they are still in use (3 months, 28 Reservations) and are holding up nicely. A few guests asked where I purchased them and were surprised to learn I made them. I passed on your patten to 3 guests.

In Germany, where my mom was from, and where I lived for 3 years during junior high, they’ve been using nets and other reusable grocery totes for decades. Well, now that California just passed the penalty law on plastic grocery bags, it’s time to add some “colleagues” to the sole (very similar to yours here) shopping net my mom left me when she passed.

Hi, I have finished the tote bag using jute string, it turned out just as I expected. It is a sturdy grocery bag, I have to adjust the rounds according to the size I wanted because the jute strings are thicker than cotton yarns!

Hi Ana! The handles are formed in Round 39, and the pictures for that round show where you should be at that point. Prior to Round 39, you should have completed a few rows of single crochet (Rounds 36 – 38).

On Round 39, to begin handle one one you will chain 35 (in the same stitch as your stitch marker #1).

Then you will skip 24 stitches, and make a single crochet in the 25th stitch from stitch marker #1. (Make sure you do not twist your chain or otherwise your handles will be twisted). You have just created handle one.

You will then single crochet to the next stitch marker and repeat the above process for handle two.

Hello Brittany, I love this pattern. So easy to follow until the very end. Because this works as a continuous round, the end of the round is always higher. So, how to we finish this off with the last stitch still being higher. Do we slip stitch it in, but I fear that will leave a bump. Thanks, Angela

I love the pattern! Clarification question: on row 5 it looks like the directions have two sets of chain fours into the next stitch, then a chain four and sc in the same stitch. Wouldn’t this be an increase every third stitch instead of every other stitch as the pattern says? (Every other stitch would get you to 18). I’m not sure I’m reading it right! 🙂

Hi! I love the pattern. I’m looking for something like this because we go shopping and come home with at LEAST 10 bags a week! My only problem is while trying to see if I had the materials, I was met with FIVE pop-ups. It’s irritating to close all of these out and I almost left immediately.

I just finished the bag and I love it! The instructions were very easy to follow even though I consider myself more of a knitter. I’ve looked at other market bag pattern but settled on this because the handles looked wide and comfortable with the bag full and the size was just right. Thanks so much for sharing!